Advanced Placement United States History

 Semester “Event” Project

 

This project is designed to make you an expert on at least one crucial event that occurred in American history.  First semester your time period will be 1585-1865, second semester, 1865-2001.  You will choose your topic.  This gives you the freedom to choose something that interests you and thereby stimulates your interest.  I will therefore demand exceptional work from each of you.  The topics will be chosen on a first come, first served basis.  Once a topic is chosen, only one other student in all classes may work on the same event.

 

 

 

Guidelines:

 

Choose your event.

·        Your topic needs to have had an impact (positive or negative) on American history.  There will be a sign-up sheet in the classroom.                                                               Sign-ups must be completed by _________________.

Sources and bibliography prep.

?              On October 9th_, I will require you to turn in a 3x5-note card, labeled with your topic and at least five sources you intend to use on your project.  Two of them must be your books.  This will serve as the basis for your bibliography.  Proper MLA formats must be used.

Outline.

?         On November 17th_ you will turn in an outline of your paper. 

Final due date.

·        Papers will be due on December 15th___. 

·        Total points:  ____300_______.

 

Points/topics to be covered in your paper:

 

Each of these will be in its own section of the paper----

 

?         Describe the event itself.  Explain what happened and why. 

?         Explain the significance of this event in American history.  Why was it so important that we still remember it years later? 

?         What if?  If this event had not turned out the way it had, how would it have changed history?  Detail the chain of events you believe would have occurred.  This is your opportunity to predict how you believe history could have been changed. Two what-ifs would work.

?         Your summary should include why you chose this event and how your new, detailed knowledge has changed (or not) your previous beliefs on this subject.

?         Book review. Critique your book.  The main purpose is to evaluate how effective the book was in your research.  Also include a recommendation for future APUSH’ers. 

 

 

Additionally:

?         You should have an attractive cover page with a visual representation of your event.

?         Visuals.  Pictures, maps, etc, always will enhance your paper.  However, do not let them overwhelm the real purpose:  writing that represents depth of knowledge.

?         Bibliography and works cited pages.  These should reflect proper MLA format.

 

Extra Credit

 

Papers turned in two weeks early will receive ten extra credit points.  One week early, five extra credit points.

 

 

Learning the proper style and requirements of writing a research paper can be frustrating.  The following sites and information can provide an outstanding guide to all your questions regarding research papers.

 

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

http://www.geocities.com/athens/Oracle/4184/

 

 

A Statement on Plagiarism

 

Don’t.   Remember all papers must be submitted to www.turnitin.com before any credit will be given.  If you have any question about what is or isn’t plagiarism, please come see me.

 

Possible First Semester Event Topics

 

  1. Salem Witch Trials
  2. Assassination of Lincoln
  3. Battle of Gettysburg
  4. British Acts of Oppression
  5. Roanoke/ First Colonization
  6. French and Indian War
  7. War of 1812
  8. Battle of New Orleans
  9. Louisiana Purchase
  10. Alien and Sedition Acts
  11. Trail of Tears
  12. Irish Immigration of 1840’s
  13. Creation of Manufacturing Goods
  14. Women’s Contribution in the Economy of 1840’s
  15. Second Great Awakening
  16. Rise of Mormonism
  17. Jefferson’s Embargo
  18. Burr-Hamilton Duel
  19. 1st Industrial Revolution in the U.S.
  20. Feminist Movement
  21. Romanticism Movement
  22. Seneca Falls Conference
  23. The Oneida Community
  24. Transcendentalism Movement
  25. Development of Slavery
  26. Middle Passage
  27. Jacksonian Democracy/B.U.S.
  28. Nat Turner’s Rebellion
  29. Early Slave rebellions (Gabriel, Stono, etc)
  30. Abolitionist Movement
  31. Rise of Free Soil Party
  32. Manifest Destiny/Polk
  33. Gold Rush
  34. Underground Railroad/ Harriet Tubman
  35. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
  36. Kansas-Nebraska Act
  37. Bleeding Kansas
  38. Trial of John Brown
  39. Dred Scott decision
  40. Birth of the Republican Party
  41. Spies of the Civil War
  42. Election of 1860
  43. Fort Sumter
  44. Battle of Antietam
  45. First Battle of Bull Run/ Second Battle of Bull Run
  46. Proclamation Emancipation
  47. Surrender at Appomattox
  48. Battle of Shiloh
  49. Battle of Fredericksburg
  50. Homestead Act
  51. Lecompton Constitution
  52. Panic of 1857
  53. Compromise of 1850
  54. Missouri Compromise
  55. Birth of the Know-Nothing Party
  56. Bank of the United States and Hamilton’s financial policies
  57. Lewis and Clark
  58. Development of the Bill of Rights
  59. Birth of Federalist Party
  60. Articles of Confederation
  61. Shay’s Rebellion
  62. Battles of Lexington and Concord
  63. Rise of Education
  64. Mexican-American War
  65. Battle of Saratoga
  66. Battle of Bunker Hill
  67. Battle of Yorktown
  68. First Great Awakening
  69. King Phillip’s War
  70. Pequot Wars
  71. Constitutional Convention
  72. Whiskey Rebellion
  73. Bacon’s Rebellion
  74. Colonial-Native American relations
  75. Women in the American Revolution
  76. Impact of women in the Civil War
  77. Spies of the Revolution
  78. Impact of Common Sense
  79. Struggle for ratification of the Constitution.
  80. Monroe Doctrine
  81. Two-party political system
  82. Immigration late 19th century
  83. Donner Party

 

Any other ideas…. Just let me know